Criminal Records Archives - Page 4 of 8 - National Pardon Centre

When you travel to the United States from Canada you clear customs at the airport you depart from, rather than the airport you arrive in. In other words, you need to clear customs before you even get the plane or – obviously – leave the country. It probably seems obvious…

Please note that a pardon and a record suspension are the same thing. It is only the name and some specifics of the program that are different. The pardon program was changed to record suspension following the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill C-10. Contrary to what you may have a…

Following Bill C10, the Parole Board of Canada introduced new steps in the record suspension application process. One is the “Measurable Benefit Letter”. Record Suspension applicants must explain their reason for applying and explain the circumstances of his offenses. They must also explain the efforts they have made to change…

Part of the changes made to the Pardon system following Bill C10, the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill was the additional requirement of showing a “measurable benefit” when applying for a pardon. In other words, if the pardon is not going to help you be a better, more law abiding…

Part of the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill was legislation that changed the laws governing pardons in Canada. Among many measures, including changing the name from pardons to record suspension, was a strange one that allows the Parole Board of Canada to refuse to order a record suspension if it…

Prior to the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill people convicted of a crime in Canada would have to wait either 3 or 5 years for their eligibility for pardons. Then the waiting period was changed to 3, 5 or 10 years. Now it’s only 5 or 10 years. This should…

I’m often amazed at how many people think honesty is the best policy at the US border. So let’s be clear: it is NOT. If you admit any illegal activity to a US border guard, particularly activity involving drugs, you will most likely be refused entry, fingerprinted, photographed, turned away….

TORONTO — Revoking a criminal pardon solely on the basis that RCMP have accused a man of plotting to attack a passenger train is unfair and a violation of his right to remain silent, Federal Court heard Monday. This was the argument put forth in court by Jaser’s lawyer who…

My Canadian Pardon and My Criminal Record – What Information Can I keep to Myself? A lot of my clients ask if they are required to tell people about their pardon if asked. This usually applies to things like job applications and the US border. I have discussed the US…

Once of the things I routinely argued during the fight against the Conservative’s omnibus crime bill was that a pardon was not so much a form of forgiveness as it was permission to get back to work and find a decent job. Most people understand this. Certainly most of my…